First Meetings
- It's a boy, Dr. Brown!
Gene squeezed the little baby as softly as he could:
- A boy… Hello, little me…
He looked up:
- Everything's alright, Sally?
- I think so… Can I…
She was looking at the baby. Gene waved his head quickly:
- Of course…
Sally held the boy on her chest, and he started to suck her breast.
- He's hungry…
- How will we call him, my dear?
- I remember you had an idea for a boy…
Gene confirmed by shaking his head:
- Elijah.
- So it will be Elijah. I like it.
- Me too.
- Where's Jen… I thought she was next to me?
- Her baby should be born already. I think she's having a rest…
He focused on Marty's thoughts…
- A girl! It's a girl! Bat, did you hear that?
- Oh, yes, rat, I heard that…
- What?
- Marty told me Jennifer and him have a girl.
- A girl… Oh, darling, it's so cute…
Marty "spoke" again:
- We've decided to call her Marlene. What do you think?
- I think that Sally and I have a boy, and we've called him Elijah.
- No? Are you kidding?
- Not at all, my friend.
- It's crazy! Do you believe it?
Gene shook his head:
Be silent, Marty. Sally and Jennifer shouldn't know what we know.
Jennifer knows about time travels…
Yes, so does Sally. But learning that her just born girl will marry my just born boy could be a terrible shock for her. And I think Sally would be shocked too…
You're right, bat… But I can't help myself thinking about it when I look at Marlene…
Gene gazed at his baby:
I know what you're talking about…
- Something's wrong, my dear?
- Nothing at all, sweetheart.
I'll find you back in our wives' maternity room…
Yes, Marty… See you soon.
- Elijah is so cute, Sally… Congratulations…
- So is Marlene. How was it?
- Tiring… But I'm glad it's over, now…
- So am I… Oh, look: Marlene is looking at Elijah!
- Yes, you're right… What do you believe she's thinking about?
Elijah was breastfeeding at the moment, eyes shut.
Sally caressed his thin red hair, and he opened his eyes:
- Oh, the hungry baby has finished…
Do you see, rat?
Yes: it seems he just noticed Marlene.
It's a long love story to be…
- We both know you're communicating, Marty!
Gene and Marty glanced at each other:
- How do you know that, Jen?
- When you don't say a thing, I know you're talking to Gene.
- Is there something you don't want to tell us, guys?
- Erm… Nothing, Sally…
- Don't lie to me.
Gene shrugged his shoulders:
- Okay, my dear, there's something we know, but we won't tell you, because it would be too disturbing for the moment…
- Something you accidentally learned in the future?
- Yes, but don't tell about time travels here…
- Gene, you're a paranoid one. There are no video cameras or microphones.
Sally smiled:
- Do you want to hug you son?
- Of yes, for sure…
Gene took Elijah in his arms. Marty did the same for his daughter.
They are still staring at each other…
Do you think they've already…
Gene "mentally" shrugged his shoulders:
Who knows if a baby can fall in love?
True… I can't wait to see how their relationship will lead them to their wedding…
Be patient, rat… It's an inestimable present to know that they'll be married one day.
You're right. What Sally and you are going to do, know?
We want to go away from mother. We both know she's dangerous.
Marty looked at Gene:
But… You will be away from me…?
And Elijah will be away from Marlene. I know it. I'm not decided yet.
Our families will be unified one day, you can't just decide to avoid it!
Of course I can't.
This tone… What do you mean?
Gene smiled:
No matter what I will do, our children will be engaged in 2015.
Time travels should have taught you that nothing's already written.
Time travels and love are two different things. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that time traveling can't erase true love.
What do you mean?
Gene sighed:
You remember when I told you I've never met Sally?
You mean when I told you Clive had seduced her before you could do anything?
Correct. I must confess I lied to you. In my original timeline, I knew Sally since I was ten.
Why did you lie?
You seemed sad for me. So I decided to release you from the additional weight to know this part.
Marty was staring at Gene: he had actually grown up, those seven years…
And in my original timeline, I did love her, but I was too shy to tell her that.
As I had to encourage you, I know it all too well.
By the way, there's one thing I don't understand… In my original timeline, I wasn't supposed to meet you before I was fourteen… And in this timeline, it seems we've met earlier.
I know you since your eighth birthday.
Marty smiled:
But if you want to know how this happened…
… There's one simple way to know it…
Exactly.
I remember you were less pleased about time traveling…
Maybe in your timeline. But as I know you for longer, you infested me much earlier.
Gene raised his eyebrows:
Infested? With what?
Your endless enjoyment for dangerous time jumps and your untamed strange behaviors.
My behaviors… I guess I'm as strange in this timeline as I were in my timeline…
Time traveling can't erase your batty self.
I guess it can't. So, when are we doing it?
Marty gave Marlene back to Jennifer:
Later. When Jennifer and Sally will be sleeping.
Tonight?
You would like to do it so soon?
We will be back in no time at all, no matter.
Gene hugged Elijah and gave him to Sally.
She was looking at his husband:
- Are you planning something potentially deadly?
- Deadly, no… Just a learning experiment.
- Be careful, honey. Your kind of business is dangerous.
- I'm more careful now, you know it.
- You can tell me that, Gene… You can tell me that…
It seems my attempts to fix my little baby up are a success.
Relieved to hear it. I don't want to do uncontrollably wild time jumps.
Neither do I. Why are we back in 1981?
It's the day I met you. I'm sure you will understand why.
Where are we going?
Just follow me, and be discreet.
Marty leaded his friend to a school group.
I remember it… It's where mom and dad registered me…
I was registered in, too… But only when I was twelve.
We met in this school? We should have met earlier, even in my timeline…
That was special… Just peek.
What do you mean by speci… Oh! I can see you!
Marty peeked too, so he could see the same scene he remembered.
Who's with you?
It's the school's little bully.
Hey! What is he doing?
The bully was shaking young Marty:
- Gimme your candies!
Young Marty shook his head:
- No way! Hey! Release me!
- Gimme them!
The little bully was up to break Marty's arm.
- That hurts… Please, release me…
- You hear him or you're deaf? Release him.
Gene turned his head to see who dared to interrupt the bully in his business:
It's me!
- Shut up, bro, I'm busy.
- Release him, Clive. Or I will be really bad with you.
Clive laughed:
- I should be afraid? Wouh-ouh, the baby will be bad with me! I'm scared!
The little Gene walked to Clive:
- Okay, don't tell I haven't warned you…
He took his grandbrother's free hand:
- Sorry, Clive…
Gene could hear a ticking noise, and young Clive yelled out:
- Aw! What was that?!
Little Gene raised his hand, showing a round piece in his palm.
- Oh, no… Not that again…
- Sleep tight…
Clive felt down, and young Marty looked at little Gene:
- Thanks… How…
- Just a lil' capsule of mine filled with crushed sleeping pills.
Gene raised an eyebrow:
I don't remember I invented this…
You did. In this timeline, at least: you were used to protect yourself from Clive this way.
- Gene Terence Brown. Secretely young inventor.
- Marty McFly. I don't understand… He's your brother?
- Unfortunately, yes. Are you alright?
Young Marty waved his head:
- Yes, I think… Thanks to you.
- Please, don't tell anyone I use it to calm down this unbearable bully. It's the only way I can protect myself from him, mom and dad won't approve it…
- I think I can keep a lil' secret to thank you for protecting me. By the way, Doc Brown is your dad?
- He is. Why?
Young Marty shrugged his shoulders:
- In fact, I know him.
- You do? That's odd…
- Gene Terence Brown!
Ooops, it's the teacher…
- Ooops, it's the teacher... Please, Marty, hide this!
Little Gene gave his protective capsule to young Marty, who put it in his schoolbag.
- Just in the nick of time…
- Can you explain me why your brother is lying down?
- He sleeps…
- Don't fake a childish language with me, Mr. Brown!
- Fine, Miss Grasey, I confess I used some sleeping pills. But he was torturing him!
Miss Grasey turned to Marty:
- Mr. McFly… So, you've met this school's bully and his brother.
- Erm… I guess so…
- After one year, I was surprised you hadn't. Is Gene telling the truth?
- Yes, Miss Grasey, Clive was up to break my arm to have my candies, and Gene saved me.
- With sleeping pills? Where are they?
Gene shrugged his shoulders:
- I had just two of them, and I've used the last one to stop him.
- Where do you get those pills, Mr. Brown?
- In my dad's chest.
- I warned you about this: just one more time, and I will tell it to your parents.
- Yes, Miss Grasey…
The teacher turned back.
- How many times you did it?
- About two thousands and fifty-seven times… But "officially" just ten times.
Young Marty gave the protective capsule back to its owner:
- And Clive never told your parents you're doing it?
- This capsule also contains an anesthetic. As he wakes up, Clive can't remember a thing.
So, that's how we met in this timeline… Fascinating…
I told you it was special.
I understand why we've been close friends earlier.
My little savior…
I… I guess I would do it for you, no matter why or when…
Marty was hugging Gene. He let him lit up the time circuits, preparing to go back with his whole new family… And put his hand on Gene's fingers.
It's the same hand I have used to save you with my capsule… Is that why you do this?
Do what?
Hold my hand like you're doing by now. It's at least the second time you do it.
Gene smiled, and Marty gone red:
I haven't noticed I do this… Sorry.
Sorry for what? It's a little disturbing, as you never did this in my timeline, but not unpleasant. Just release me for a few seconds: I need those fingers in order to make this baby jump.
Gene entered the four-dimensional coordinates, and the Time Device vanished in its green flash…
- That's when you've been… Why haven't you simply asked Marty?
- He wanted me to see it in live.
- Time jumping instead of telling… It looks so much like your rat… Oh, Gene, you were a so cute little boy… I remember you when you were ten…
Gene took Sally's fingers and kissed her.
He left her and Jennifer, taking the Time Device with Marty to jump to his lab: this was where he came usually when Sally wasn't with him, and Marty took the same opportunities to join him there. Marty was resting on the rudimentary bed, as Gene was working on his new invention.
- CRAP! STUPID CONNEXION!
Is there something wrong, bat? I've never seen you making so much noise while creating…
Yes, I'm worried about Sally and our son…
Marty sat up:
I know what you're feeling… I worry about Jen and Marlene, too…
No, it's not that… I feel like something terrible will happen very soon…
Something terrible? What?
I don't know, but it's directly linked to Elijah…
Listen, bat: our children are safe in that maternity… What could happen to Elijah?
Gene shrugged his shoulders, and the phone in the laboratory rang.
I'm taking it! Don't give your work up!
Marty took the phone and answered:
- Yes, Marty McFly here…
As the caller was speaking, Marty turned blank and opened bug eyes.
Marty waved his head, put the phone back in its place and stood up:
Something happened in the maternity.
What? What?!
Marty shook his head in disbelief:
Gene… Our children have been kidnapped…
- When did this happened ?
- We don't know. We're still trying to wake your wives up, but it seems they've been drugged…
- Drugged? Let us see them!
- This way, Dr. Brown…
Jennifer and Sally were sleeping, a bunch of doctors around them.
- Jen… What happened to you…
Marty took Jennifer's hand and noticed five track marks on her wrist:
Hey, Gene, look at it!
Gene took a look and raised an eyebrow:
What's this… Sally got the same marks…
I recognize them: these are the marks your protective capsule leaves on the skin after use…
Gene couldn't remember it, of course, but this made no sense for him…
You're telling me someone stole my capsule and went here to kidnap our babies?
I see no other explanation… But it's impossible… Your protective capsule has been confiscated by Miss Grasey two years after our first meeting, she never gave it back, and you haven't created an other capsule like this.
Gene shrugged his shoulders:
So, nobody could have it, except Miss Grasey…
- Dr. Brown, someone's asking for you on the phone…
- Who?
- She doesn't want to give her name.
She… Who could it be…?
- Yes, Doctor Gene Terence Brown on line.
- Hello, bro… Still lost about what happened to your family?
- Clive… It was you…
Gene was crushing a plastic bottle with his fingers.
- Of course… You really thought you could stop me forever?
Gene rejected the bottled as it was reduced to a little plastic stick:
- You will regret that, Clive, I swear you will regret…
- The baby will be bad with me! I'm scared!
- Do I have to recall you I'm older than you, now?
- Not anymore, bro…
- What do you want, Clive?
Clive laughed on the waves:
- I already have what I want: the opportunity to ruin your life. But I won't do anything to them, bro… If you don't try to find me.
- I guess you could be really far away from me when you want.
- Well guessed: I have the Time Device.
Gene was raging:
- Don't speak about it!
- Oh yes, our family's secret… I don't care about this, bro, you got it?
- You bastard…
- Shhh… No bad words…
- Shut up! And why are you speaking with this ridiculous old female voice?
Clive laughed again:
- I don't understand you: your wife has been drugged and your son is in your worst enemy's hands, but you worry about my voice?
- Don't mock me, Clive!
- Very well… Just call me Miss Grasey, so…
- Miss Grasey…?
Clive interrupted the call. Gene couldn't say a thing.
Clive has our children… He has stolen my protective capsule…
Oh, no… Tell me it's not true…
It is, I'm afraid… He has obviously pretended to be Miss Grasey, so he could put his hands on my capsule and drug Sally and Jen…
Gene sat down:
It's a complete disaster… How could we know when and how he did it…?
I think I have an idea…
Marty took the TDL in Gene's pocket: it was going mad again. Gene smiled:
Okay, Marty… Let's rescue our children…
They jumped in the Time Device, and Gene lit up the time circuits.
Why aren't we just going back a few hours ago to prevent Clive from kidnapping our children?
Because it would erase the reason of our time jump. And he could be anyone, as he's got my future DNA Converter in his wrist. We wouldn't be able to recognize him.
Okay… So, when are we going?
Gene shrugged his shoulders:
Two years after our first meeting. You told Miss Grasey confiscated my capsule then.
Yes. Do you think it was Clive, in fact?
I'm just trying not to jump into conclusions too quickly.
I guess we don't have much time.
Gene shook his head:
Time travelers or not, we don't have all the chances in the world.
So, what's the plan?
While Miss Grasey will have taken my capsule, we'll follow her and take it discretely.
Sounds right… But you don't know when this happened.
Gene was too anxious, but Marty was right:
And you remember the precise date?
Not really… But… Oh, I know! It was when you met Sally!
Really?
Yes! Miss Grasey caught you in the act: you had drugged Clive in order to protect Sally!
Gene seemed to be raging again:
What was he doing to her?
Trying to seduce her. And to be honest, she didn't seem to appreciate this…
Gene entered the year in the settings, going obviously mad about what Marty just told:
Okay, when was it, precisely…?
Gene jumped out of the Time Device. Marty ran after him:
Wait for me!
No time. This bastard will regret his behavior.
Gene, calm down, please… I can feel you're angry…
Disconnect your communicator, then, my feelings are not relevant!
They reached the school's walls. Gene peeked inside:
So, there you are, little jerk…
He's alone… We're too early, I think…
Very well. We won't miss anything, then…
They waited about one hour, Gene still raging…
Then, young Sally appeared from the room 78, and young Clive noticed her:
- Hey, hello, baby… Looking for a ride with a young gentleman…?
Sally turned her head on Clive, considering him from the feet to the head:
- I am not a baby. And you are everything in the world, except a gentleman.
- But you want a ride?
Sally looked at him with all the disrespect a young girl could have in her eyes:
- Neither.
Young Clive took her hand as she was leaving.
- Release me, you silly bully!
- Why are you rejecting me again? I have been a true gentleman with you…
- If a gentleman behavior consists in grabbing a woman's breast and bums, then yes.
Clive sighed:
- Still furious about this? It was a long time ago…
- Two weeks ago, exactly.
Clive took her other hand.
- What are you doing?!
Sally tried to reject Clive, but he succeded in wrapping her in his arms…
- Come on, baby, let me do it…
- Release me! Release me, I said!
- You hear her or you're deaf, Clive…?
- Gene! Help me, please…
Young Clive presented Sally, and young Gene gave him a mean look:
- Coward. You're using her as a shield against me. You're disgusting…
I don't understand why she married him in an other timeline…
To be honest, I don't remember it, bat…
- Come if you dare, bro…
Young Gene wrinkled eyelids and ran to them.
- Hey! What are you doing?
Young Gene felt down on his knees as he was still running, and as he was rolling under Clive's arm, he grabbed it, and the same ticking noise arose.
- Oh… Not again…
Young Clive felt down, and young Gene caught Sally in his arms:
- Are you alright, Sally?
Sally looked at him, smiling: she was clearly in love.
- I guess I am alright… Thanks to you…
Young Gene was shivering. It seemed Sally was up to kiss him at this moment, but a voice rang on Gene's and Marty's head:
- Mr. Brown!
- Ooops, it's the teacher…
- This time, you're unmasked! What's this capsule you have in your hand?
Young Gene helped Sally to get back on her feet and showed the palm of his hand:
- So, this is how you drug your brother…
- Yes, Miss Grasey… But Clive was sexually harassing Miss Sally Miryl.
- No excuses! Give me this…
Young Gene obeyed.
Miss Grasey walked away, seeming highly satisfied.
- My poor Gene… It's really unfair…
- No matter, Sally… You're safe, that's all I'm feeling concerned about.
- Your language and behaviors are so… Correct…
Now, Gene! We have to get your capsule!
Gene was mesmerized by the scene of his true love to begin. He followed Marty:
Where do you think she could have hid it?
I don't know… Wow, go down!
They hid behind a bush:
Miss Grasey… She isn't supposed to leave the school before the class ends…
Gene and Marty waved their heads:
It's Clive…
They followed the false Miss Grasey, and Gene looked at his TDL:
Clive's stolen Time Device is close: my TDL is completely mad.
So we have no time…
Marty ran to Miss Grasey and jumped on her:
- Don't move!
I'm coming, rat!
Gene helped Marty to tame the old woman:
- We know who you are, Clive! Put this capsule down, right now!
Miss Grasey opened his hand and let the capsule fall:
- How did you know…?
- Shut up.
Gene took the capsule and drugged Clive:
I feel much better, now…
Marty helped him to get Clive in the Time Device:
So, what are we doing with him?
Gene lit up the time circuits:
He has escaped from 2035, so, we are leading him back to the future…
- It's a crazy story, darling…
- Crazy, but true…
- I feel so safe with you… I've always felt safe next to you…
- Don't worry, I won't let anyone doing wrong to our Elijah or you…
Gene kissed Sally, caressing his son's hair.
Marty was hugging Marlene:
- Dad has been so anguished, my jewel…
- Where is Clive, now?
- Better ask: "When is Clive, now?".
- We've jumped in 2035 in order to deliver him to the authorities.
- But he was jailed since twenty years when he escaped, so we jumped again in 2055.
Marty took a look at Elijah:
- Under the "mesmerize mode", Clive told us when exactly he escaped.
- And we leaded him to this date, just ten minutes after his jailbreak!
- So, Clive was 38 years old when he came in our original timeline to kidnap Marlene…
- And Elijah.
- He was right when he told you were no longer older than him.
Gene left a kiss on Elijah's forehead:
- But he's still too slow for me.
- And too stupid!
- Yes, he gave us a relevant clue when he told "call me Miss Grasey".
Marty gave Marlene back to Jennifer.
- Without it, we couldn't be able to get him so fast.
Marty smiled at Gene:
- Fortune favors you, bat.
- I guess so, rat…
Elijah was gazing at Marlene. She smiled.
- Look at those two pals!
- Yes, Jen, they should get married together one day…
Gene and Marty get shocked, thinking again about what they saw in 2015.
- I'm joking, darling…
- Erm… Yes, I know…
- So, what are you doing, now Clive is jailed again?
- I guess we'll be safer. I can work on my invention.
Marty smiled:
- But it's not a reason to avoid time travels!
Gene waved his head:
- Correct.
As Gene put his son on his mother's bed, Elijah squeaked:
- Maar… Lene…?